Background: Depression is one of the major public diseases affecting people of all ages. The majority of those affected are women. Depression is seen from three levels, mild, moderate and severe. Patients living with the severe degree are at high risk of focusing their thoughts on suicide. In 2020, a statistic was compiled in Sweden on how many people have experienced depression at some point in their lives. In the ages 16-18, 21% have been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe how patients living with depression experience the encounter with the nurse.

Method: A literature study in accordance with Friberg five steps based on qualitative articleswas used. In all seven articles with qualitative approach were analyzed. The articles were compiled and formed two main themes and four subthemes. 

Results: The results showed that patients with depression felt that the first meeting with nurses was important because it affects the patients’ experience and whether the patients will feel safe. The results also showed that the knowledge and experience the nurses had in the care units became decisive for how the patients’ encounter with nurse became.

Conclusion: The conclusions showed that more knowledge about depression is needed among nurses, especially early in nursing education so that they can support and help patients suffering from depression.